Oct. 19, 2009

Game Notes: Portland State and Sacramento State

Pocatello, ID--Idaho State comes off a home sweep over Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado to improve to a 3-1-0 Big Sky record to hold second place in the conference standings with nine points. The Bengals are 8-5-0 for the season. Idaho State will play its final road contests of the season when the team takes on Portland State (6-6-2, BSC 2-1-1) and Sacramento State (7-4-4, BSC 2-1-1). The Vikings will host Idaho State on Friday, October 23 at PCC-Rock Creek at 6 p.m. while the Hornets will play ISU on Sunday, October 25 at 1 p.m. on the Hornet Soccer Field. Live stats can be found on the home team's athletic website.

With Idaho State's 2-0 victory over Northern Colorado the Bengals held first place in the conference standings until Eastern Washington and Sacramento State played on Sunday. If the teams had tied ISU would have remained on top of the rankings. However, the Eagles were victorious sending Idaho State to second place in the standings with nine points. Eastern Washington who was selected last in the preseason polls leads the conference with 10 points.

The Bengals continue to score early as Idaho State has scored a goal in under 22 minutes in six of their last seven games with the exception of the shutout at Eastern Washington. ISU has scored 14 of its 20 goals in the first period alone. In ISU's last two contests the Bengals saw all six of their goals scored by different players as well as six of their assists. Annamarie Hofstetter set the Big Sky all-time career assists record with 23 off a corner kick against Northern Arizona. Rachel Strawn scored the game-winner against the Lumberjacks while Megan Stainbrook scored the game-winner against the Bears.

Idaho State is led by freshman Ashley Jones and senior Hofstetter in goals as both have recorded four during the season, however Hofstetter posts two game-winners to Jones' one. In assists Jones leads with five and in points with 13 points. Goalkeeper Bailey Williams has played every minute for the Bengals this season and posts a .758 save percentage. Idaho State posts 20 goals and 20 assists for 60 points. Last year Idaho State recorded just 13 goals and 15 assists for 41 points.

The Bengals lead the conference in assists with 20, assists per game with a 1.54 average and corner kicks per game averaging 5.54 per game. Idaho State posts the second best points total with 60 and the third best goals average with 1.54 per game. ISU posts the third most shots in conference play with 191.

Idaho State posts the second best unbeaten streak as they are 2-0-0 having swept Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado at home. Freshman Jones is tied for the third most points in conference play with 13 while posting the second most assists with five for the season. Strawn and Hofstetter are tied for third most game-winning goals with two each in the conference.

Portland State is tied for third place in the conference standings with Sacramento State as both post a 2-1-1 record for seven points. Both teams come off three-straight road games. Portland State comes off a 1-0 victory at Montana. While the Hornets come off a 0-1 loss at Eastern Washington.

Portland State is 3-1-1 at home having dropped the teams only contest to Boise State and are a physical team as they lead the Big Sky in yellow cards having recorded 22 this season alone. The Vikings' weapon is Dolly Enneking who has recorded eight goals and three assists to post the second most points in the Big Sky. Enneking posts a .378 shot on goal percentage and has produced two game winners. She is 1-for-1 in penalty kicks.

Idaho State leads the series against the Vikings 7-4-1 with Portland State on a three match win streak over ISU. ISU posted a 1-1 tie in 2005 ending the Bengals seven match win streak. On the road Idaho State is 3-2-1 against the Vikings. ISU posts a 6-4-1 record in conference play.

Sacrament State has defeated Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado and tied Montana. The team posts a .441 shot on goal percentage. The Hornets are led by Kelsey O'Donnell who has recorded four goals, two in conference play alone. O'Donnell posts an outstanding .500 shot on goal percentage. She is followed by Cori Shreve and Leah Larot who each have posted three goals.

Idaho State leads the series 7-2-3 with the Bengals capturing the last meeting 3-1 at home. In 2006 ISU and Sacramento State faced off in the Big Sky Tournament with the Bengals capturing the tournament title when they advanced on Penalty kicks (4-3). The Bengals are 3-1-1 over the Hornets on the road.